In This Mountain

Just finished In This Mountain by Jan Karon (Book 7 in the Mitford Series - somewhere I got out of order, as I need to read Book 9 next).

What a pleasant read! I love the character development so much. You can almost see what is coming with Father Tim refusing to take his medication for diabetes. The twists and turns of faith being worked out in multiple lives are very good. Karon manages to get the plan of salvation, the salvation prayer, and numerous Scripture references and direct quotes worked into the story line.

What I really enjoy is that the people in her books are people. Just normal, everyday people. While shy on cuss words, violence, and steamy sex scenes (I would say about 0, which is fine by me), true life happens. So and so comes from abusive backgrounds, mean people coexist with normal people, even evil people have a place in Mitford (but wait - evil people have a chance at reclamation, as regularly viewed during Christmas in A Christmas Carol).

Good and bad things happen in Karon's book(s). I keep waiting to read that Barnabas gets old and dies. I don't mind so much the people dying, although I like it when the author ends the books/series with most everyone intact. But when the favorite pets pass on, ouch.

Waiting for Book 9. I remember snatches of it, especially relating to certain characters, but it has been so long since I've read it, I'm not sure what happens. Joy! A brand new book! It sometimes pays to forget stuff!

I recommend this book, beginning at Book 1, all the way through Book 9.

Looks like Karon is working on prequels to Father Tim's life. I started one about going back to Holly Springs, but can't commit to it yet. Gotta finish Book 9 first.

BTW: Check this source out if you would like to trade books for the cost of postage (no charge, just postage to mail your books to other members, they mail their books to you...). I'm waiting for my Book 9 from this source.

www.paperbackswap.com (This site also includes hardback and listening volumes.)

Happy Reading.

The Mitford Series (Subtitle: How to Find Cheap Books)

What's on my night stand right now? Inheritance (which is waiting until I can refresh the plot line, problems, setting, characters in my mind), Mockingjay (disturbingly violent but riveting for the intended audience), and Book number 6 in the Mitford Series, A Common Life, The Wedding Story.

Reflecting on the last book listed, I can't find my set of the Mitford Series. I've had them all, lost them all, and am in the process of recollecting them all. Easiest way would be to go to the store and buy the entire set, or go online and order the whole set. But where is the fun in that challenge?

My strategy: thrift stores ($1 or less is an appropriate price to my way of thinking); yard sales; online bargains (but usually out of my $1 price range due to shipping); and my most recent way to go - www.paperbackswap.com.

Paperbackswap.com was an accidental find for me. But accidents are not always bad things. I joined, listed books I was willing to part with, and as soon as I gained my first point (one book sent to another subscriber, the mailer paying the postage), I was hooked - searching and hunting, requesting and waiting. It's a great deal!

Slowly, slowly, I have been recovering the entire series. I just began A Common Life, The Wedding Story. I love the character development for Father Tim and Cynthia, who is after all, an author and illustrator, someone near and dear to my heart. All of the characters are beautifully developed. Life happens, the good, the scary, the weird, the terrible. Seems to me that Mitford should and could be a real location.

What a nice way to drift off to sleep, visiting the reality of Mitford.